Rotary numbering attachment for offset printing press



June 24, 1958 A. H. ROTHOFF 2,339,991

ROTARY NUMBERING ATTACHMENT FOR OFFSET PRINTING PRESS Filed March 24, 1955 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 June 24; 1958 A. H. ROTHOFF 2,839,991

ROTARY NUMBERING ATTACHMENT FOR OFFSET PRINTING PRESS Filed March 24, 1955 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVEN TOR. i//V040 M foff/OF/ ITI'dK/VISYS ROTARY NUMBERING A'I TACHIVIENT FOR OFFSET PRINTING PRESS Arnold H. Rotholf, Birmingham, Ala., assignor to Dixie Type and Supply Company, a partnership Application March 24, 1955, Serial No. 496,543

8 Claims. '(Cl. 101-77) My invention relates to a letter press attachment for printing presses and relates more specifically to a rotary numbering attachment for offset printing presses. 7

An object of my invention is to provide a printing press of the ofiFset type having associated therewith auxiliary printing mechanism efiective to print by direct contact additional indicia on the work which in practice may be numerals printed in numerical order on sheets fed through the press. V

Another object is to provide an attachment especially adapted for use in combination with an offset printing press, which attachment embodies letter press printing mechanism which operates in timed relation to the operation of the ofiset press, together with means effective automatically to index the letter press attachment, in proper manner with the operation of the printing press proper.

Another object is to provide letter press printing mechanism embodying a printing cylinder and an impression.

cylinder together with means automaticallyoperable to move the impression cylinder away from the printing cylinder whenever the sheetv feeding mechanism fails,

whereby to prevent the printing cylinder from contacting the impression cylinder.

Another object of my invention is to provide a letter press attachment for ofiset printing presses which embodies control means for indexing the, printing mechanism proper of the attachment, which control means is effective automatically upon misfeeding or non-feeding of the press to inactivate and hold inactivated,.without indexing, the printing mechanism of my improved attachment, and which, whenthe press is again put into proper operation, automatically resumes the normal indexing motions, all in timed sequence and in timed re lation relative to the printing press mechanism and its feed.

Other and more general objects of my invention are Apparatus illustrating the 'featur'es of my invention is shown in the accompanying drawings forminga part of this application in which:

Fig. 1 is a fragmental front ele vatio nalview of my improved attachment in place on a printing press, many of the parts being broken away and in section for the sake of clarity; i

Fig. 2 is an enlarged detail side elevational view of the printing press showing my attachment in'plac'e thereon, some of the parts being broken away and in section, the dampening and hiking rolls for the press proper being omitted; Y 1 i 2' -Fig. 3 is an enlarged detail sectional view taken generally along line III- 111 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a fragmental detail sectional view taken generally along line IV'IV of Fig. 1 and drawn to an enlarged scale; r

Fig. 5 is an enlarged detail fragmental view taken generally along line V--V of Fig. 1 with certain parts broken away and showing the manually operable means for disengaging the'indexing mechanism of my improved numbering attachment and for rendering inoperative the number printing mechanism;

A 2,839,991 Patented June 24,1953

Fig. 6 is an enlarged detail sectional view taken generally along line VI-'VI of Fig. 5, certain of the parts being broken away and in section; and,

Fig. 7 is a detail sectional view taken generally along line VII'VII of Fig. 3 and showing a means for actuatand as being applied to an oiTset printing press which is known generally in the trade as a Davidson press. For instance, a press with which my invention is particularly adaptedfor association is known as a model 233, manufactured by the Davidson Manufacturing 00., Brooklyn, New York. The Davidson press compn'ses essentially a plate segment and an impression segment mounted on a common cylinder. A blanket cylinder is mounted for rotation near the plate and impression cylinder. Inking and dampening rollers co-act with the plate and impression cylinder. The inking and dampening assembly and the blanket cylinder are mounted for movement into and out of contact with the plate and impression segments at the correct time in the cycle of operation, all i in a well known manner for such press.

Briefly, my invention comprises a rotary letter press attachment especially adapted for association with a press of the character designated. My improved apparatus includes one or more indexible printing machines which in practice may be numbering machines. Coacting with the indicia wheels of the numbering machines is an im pression cylinder. The impression cylinder is mounted for movement into and out of printing relationship with the printing or indicia wheels. Control means is associated with the impressioncylinder of the attachment so that it is in printing position at that time in the printing press cycle when the'impression segment of the press is in contact with the blanket cylinder; During the time in the printing press cycle that the plate segment is in contact with the blanket cylinder, the control means moves the impression cylinder of the attachment out of printing relationship with the indicia 'or numbering wheels. The control means is elfective to move "a member to a position to index the printing wheels of the attachment during that time in the cycle of the printing press when the plate segment is in contact with the blanket cylinder. When the impression segment is in contact with the blanket cylinder, the control means moves the indexing member for the numbering machines to inoperable position. Due to the two-to-one ratio in speed and circumference between the blanket cylinder and the plate and impression segment cylinder of the printing press, I make the effective diameter of the path of travel of the number printing wheels of my improved attachment the same as the diameter of the blanket cylinsioii cylinder of my improved printing attachment is moved out of printing relationship with the numbering cylinder thereof except during the time when a sheet of paper is in correct printing pos i tion therein; During this time. in the cycle,,-tl'ie;irideriingtakes place. CI'furthen provide means. controlled byfthe I printihgi throw-off mechanism .to. render my attachment inoperative, both as to printing and indexing, whenever the printing press sheet feeding mechanism failsor misfeeds. In this way I prevent'rny improved attachment from-registering a number unless the same is printed on a sheet andalso Lprevent the impression cylinder of my attachment from contacting the printing. Wheels. p

Referring now to the drawing'sffo'r abett'er understanding of my invention the Davidson. press consists of two side frames 101 andl'l. Mounted-insuit'able bearings 12 and 13in the sideframes isthe shaft 14a of an impression and plate segment. cylinderindifcated generally by the numeral 14. AswilLbe understood, thecylinder 14 embodies an impression segment 16 arid a plate segment 17.

. Disposed tocooperate with the cylinder l4 isa blanket cylinder 18. The cylinder 18 is mounted on ashaft 19. The shaft 19 is provided adjacent its ends with eccentrics not shown, suitably journalled in bearings in the, side frames. On one. end of the shaft 19 is an arm 21. It will be seen that as the arm 21 is oscillated the blanket cylinder tion of the periphery of cylinder 14.

The. throw-out mechanism for the press comprises the usual tongue member 22 and the lever 23. The lever 23 is pivoted in the lower end ofan arm 24. The arm is mounted on an oscillating shaft 26, the shaft being oscillated by a cam, not shown, but which usually is afiixed to the. impression plate seginent cylinder 14. The tongue 22 is formed on the upper end of an arm 27. The arm 27 is mounted. inashaft 28 in turn journalled in suitable bearingsin the side frames and '11 of the press.

On one end of the shaft 28 is a pawl arm 29., The end of the pawl arm is disposed toengagein a tooth 31 formed on the periphery of a-blankct cylinder latch indicated'generally by the numeral32. A spring 33 biases the tongue arm 27 to theposition shown. The sheets S are fed .to thepress one by-one by means of a feeder (not shown) so that theypass between the arm 23 and the tongue 22, into printing position within the press. The arm 21 is connected by a link 34 to-a lug 36 on the periphery of the member 32 1 A spring37- biasesthe member 32 counterclockwise as viewed in Fig. 2; t here,being a suitable stop, not shown, to limit the motion imparted by the spring 37.

. Also journalled in the side frames in suitable manner is an ejector ring shaft 38. On the s haft38 are the usual sheet ejector rings 39.: On one endof the shaft 38 between the'pressside :frames, is a sprocket 41. On the moves "into and .out of contact with the appropriatepor otherend of shaft 38 is disc:42. Chains 43 and 44 pass over the sprocket and disc :just. mentioned. Carried by the chains in suitable manner. is a sheet gripper bar 46 which has thereon individual grippers 47 for gripping the sheet S in the Wellknown manner. It will be seen that the bar 46 is secured to the chains insuch manner as'always to remain parallelto the longitudinal axis of the several rollers or cylinders. Likewise, it will be understood that the gripping elements 47 hold the sheet S until the chains. have passed under their respective sprocket or disc whereby the sheet is delivered from beneath the chains 43 and 44 and fall into a receiving hopper 48. -See'Fig. 2..

The foregoing is a brief description of some of the essentials of the .well known Davidson press previously referred to. The foregoing partshave been described since from the drawings for the. sake of clarity;

i in the form of plates.

My invention consists of the rotary letter press attachment now to be described together with the actuating and control means therefor which'cause the same to function in timed relation with the operation of the press previously described to print on the sheets as they come from the main printing press additional indicia such for instance as numbers in numerical order.

My attachment comprises spaced side frames 51 and 52 Cross braces 53 and 54 secure the plates together. The whole device may be attached to a cross brace'56 on the printing press by means of screws 57 as shown in Figs. 1 and 3. The side plates are cut out to fit over the ejector ring shaft and the associated mechanism as indicated by the numeral 58.

Mounted for adjustment axially and circumferentially on the ejector ring shaft 38 are mounting collars 59 and 61 for a pair of indexible numbering machines which are indicated generally by the numeral s 62 and63 Each of the collars may be provided with set screws 64 to hold them in adjusted position. As will be well understood, each numbering machine comprises a plurality of individual rotatable indicia or type carrying wheels 66. The wheels are mounted on a suitable shaft 67. Also, by mechanism incorporated in the machines 62 and 63 the numbering wheels 66 of the machine 62 are actuated in step by step manner or indexed, whenever an arm 68 thereon is actuated. In similar manner, whenever an arm 69 on the machine 63 is actuated there is ratchet mechanism or the like, not shown, automatically effective to step the wheels 66 of the numbering machine 63. Thus, and for instance, when the arm 68 is moved in the direction of the arrow 71 the; numbering machine 62 isindexed one number. Spring means, not shown, is provided to return the arms 68 and 69 to a position against a stop, also not shown. Thenumbering machine arms 68 and 69 mayhave rollers 72 and 73 on the ends thereof. p

Mounted insuitable bearings and projecting through the side plate 52 is a tubular shaft 74. A spring .75 biases the shaft 74 clockwise as viewed in Figs. 3 and 4. Fixedly mounted on the shaft 74 is a cam 76 which is disposed, upon oscillation-of the shaft 74 as will appear, to engage the roller 72 thereby to index the numboring machine 62. ,In similar manner, there is a cam 77 also fast onnthe shaft 74 which is adapted to engage the roller 73 of the numbering machine 63, the1'cby to index that machine on'e step The shaft 74 is oscillated in timed relation relative to the printingpress in a manner later 'to be described. l j V v Disposed to cooperate with the indicia wheels 66 of the numbering machines is an impression cylinder '78. The cylinder 78 may. be provided with a sprocket 79 which meshcs with chain 43 thereby to rotate the same. Likewise ,cooperating with the indicia wheels to ink the same is an inking roll er 81, a felt roller, 82 in contact therewith andavibrating roller 83. The rollers 82. and 83 are in frictional contact with the inking roller'81 and are driven thereby. The means to vibrate the vibrating roller 83 cornprises an oscillatable arm 84 which is pivoted to the side plate 5 1 asat 86. See Fig.7. The arm 84 has an inclined surface 87 atits lower end which engages a. projection 83a on the end of roller,83. The roller 83 may be provided with a spring 83b which biases the portion 83a intocontact with theinclined portion 87. The arm 84 is vibrated by means of a roller 88 on its upper end, which roller incontact with'acam 89 in turn faston shaft 14:; of cylinder- 14;

The impression cylinder 78 is mountedfin eccentrics 91 whereby it may be moved into andout ofprinting position. relative. to the several numbering wheels 66. To effect thistherjis mounted on. one .end of the shaft 781:

' which supports theprinting1i'oller78, anarm 92. Pivotallyconnected to the uppcrend of the arm 92 is alink 93 which in turn is pivoted at 94to a pin 96, The pin 96 is secured in rigid manner to a shaft 97 which is oscillatanswer ably mounted in the center of the hollow or tubularshaft 74. The tubular shaft 74 may be provided with a notched out portion 98 to permit limited oscillation of the shaft 97 and its pin 96 without rotating the shaft 74. See particularly Figs. 4 and 6 of the drawings. Consequently, when the cam arms 76 and 77 are out of indexing position relative to the associated arms 68 and 69, the impression cylinder 78 is in printing position relative to the printing wheels 66, and vice versa.

On one end of shaft 97 I secure an arm 101. The arm is made fast to the shaft 97 by means of a set screw 102. Pivotally connected to the lower end of the arm 101 is a link 103. The other end of the link is pivotally connected at 104 to the lower end of an actuating lever 106. The actuating lever is pivoted on a pin or stud 107 projecting from the side frame 11 of the printing press and has an upper end 108 which carries a roller 109. The roller 109 is disposed to run against a cam 111 having a high place or lobe 112 on its periphery. The cam is fixedly mounted on the shaft 14a of the cylinder 14 and rotates therewith. A spring 113 biases the roller 109 into contact with the periphery of the cam and holds it there except when the throw-off mechanism is actuated as will appear. The lobe or high portion 112 of the cam 111 is equal to one-half of its circumference.

Referring more particularly to Fig. 6 of the drawing it will be seen that there is secured to the arm 101 and hence to the shaft 97, by means of screws 116, a relatively short sleeve 117. The sleeve 117 has in its inner face a notch 118. In the projecting end of the tubular shaft 74 there is a corresponding notch 119. Threaded into the sleeve 117 is a bearing pin 121. Pivotally mounted at 122 to the bearing pin 121 is a pawl arm 123 having a lug portion 124 adapted to enter into the notches 118 and 119 when the same are aligned, thereby to lock the tubular cam shaft 74 and the sleeve 117 together. A spring 126 urges the pawl portion 124 into the notches.

Also mounted on the shaft 14a is a second cam 127 which has a relatively short lobe or high point 128 thereon. Pivoted on the pin 107 is an arm 129 which carries a roller 131 at its upper end which is adapted to run against the periphery of the cam 127. A spring 132 holds the'roller 131 resiliently against the periphery of the cam 127. A roller 133 is mounted on the lower end of thearm 129. Due to the motion imparted to thearm 129 by cam 127 roller 133 moves toward and from the pawl arm during each cycle of the printing press.

Fixed to the blanket cylinder latch 32 is an arm 134. Pivotally mounted to the upper end of the arm 134 is an arm 136. As best shown in Fig. 5 of the drawings, on the inner end of arm 136' is a shoe-like member 137 which has an inclined surface 138 on its upper surface. The end of the shoe rests on the upper surface of the pawl arm 123, to the right of the pivot point 122 thereof as viewed in Fig. 5, when the latch 32 is in the position shown in Fig. 2 of the drawings.

From what has just been described it will be seen that so long as the throw-off mechanism of the press permits the press to operate, and sheets are proceeding therethrough in normal manner, the arm 29 holds the latch 32 in the position shown in Fig. 2. The roller 133 is so mounted on the lower end of arm 129 that it does not pivot the latch 123 until the thick, tapered portion 138 of the shoe is interposed between the roller and the pawl arm. This takes place only when the arm 29 has its end disengaged from the shoulder 31 and upon the consequent counterclockwise rotation of the latch 32. Therefore, the attachment operates to print upon each cycle of the printing press except when the throw-off mechanism indicates a non-feeding or misfeeding of a sheet at which time the pawl 123 is rocked clockwise as viewed in 'Figs. 2 and 5, thus to disengage the index 7 the latch 32 is released.

Also pivotally mounted to the upper end of arm 134 is an arm 141. The arm 141 has an elongated end 142 with an elongated slot 143 therein. The slotted end 142 of the arm 141 fits slidably over a pin 144 outstanding from the upper end 108 of the arm 106. Therefore, when the spring 37 rocks the latch 32 counterclockwise,-

Which it does when the throw-off mechanism indicatesa misfeeding or non-feeding of a sheet, the upper end 108 of arm 106 is moved to the left as viewed in Fig. 2. This disengages roller 109 from the cam 11 1, at the same time moving the lower end of the arm 106 to the right, rocking the arm 101 counterclockwise as viewed.

in Fig. 2. As will be seen arm 136 is moved by arm 134 to the left simultaneously with leftward movement of arm 141, whereby the thick portion of the shoe 137 is interposed between the roller 133 and the right hand end of pawl arm 123. During this time the pawl arm will have its end 124 disengaged from the notches 118 and 119, whereby the springs biasing shaft 74 clockwise as viewed in Figs. 2, 3 and 5 hold the indexing cams 76 and 77 out of operative position. At the same time, rocking movement of shaft 97 through the arm Y101 and the linkage just described moves the eccentrically mounted impression cylinder 78 to the full line position shown in Fig. 4, preventing it from being contacted by the indicia wheels of the rotating numbering machines mounted on shaft 38.

Manual means also is provided for holding the mecha nism of my attachment out of printing position and out of indexing position, regardless of the operationof the press. As best shown in Fig. 5 there is pivotallymounted on pin 107 a manually operated throw-out control for my attachment indicated generally by the numeral 151. The control 151 may be in the form of an arm having a handle portion 152 and a lower or pawl release portion 153. The handle portion has a spring biased stop member 154 therein, pivoted at 156 to the handle. A detent 157 is adapted to fit selectively in notches 158 or 159 provided in the pin 107. It will thus be seen that when the entire member 151 is rocked counterclockwise from the position shown in Fig. 5 until its detent 157 engages in the notch 159, the lower portion 153 thereof is in position to disengage the pawl 123 as will appear.

Projecting inwardly from a side of the lower portion 153 of the arm 151 is a pin 161. Projecting laterally from a side of the pawl arm.123 to the right of pivot point 122 thereof as viewed in Fig. 5 is a bracket 162.

Projecting outwardly from a side of the portion '153 of the control 151 is a pin 163 which is adapted to engage a side of arm 106, thereby to rock the arm 106 counterclockwise whenever the member 151 is moved counterclockwise to a position with its detent 157 in the notch 159. This motion moves arm 101 and 97 counterclockwise as viewed in Figs. 2 and 5, moving the impression cylinder 78 away from the indicia wheels, out of contact therewith.

From the foregoing the method of constructing and using my improved attachment may be readily explained and understood. With the press in normal operation it will be seen that the impression and plate segment, cylinder 14 thereof is rotated, its shaft 14a serving to receive the power for rotation and to support the cylinder. As long as sheets S are passing through the throw-off mechanism, the press continues to operate. In this position of the parts arm 29 is engaged against the shoulder 31 of the latch 32 and shoe member 137 on the end of arm 136 rests on the right hand end of the pawl arm 123. As

the cams 111 and 127 rotate they move the rollers.109.

and, 131 respectivelygjn and out, thereby oscillating, the.

arms 106 and 129, respectively. However, so long as the thick part of the shoe member 137 does notenter between the roller 133 and thelend of the pawl arm 123, the pawlarm portion 124 remains seated in the notches 118 and 119, thus locking the sleeve 117 to the end of the tubular shaft 74. Upon each revolution of the cam 111 the indexing arms or cams 76 and 77 are moved inwardly, in position to be engaged by the respective arms on the numbering machines 62 and 63, indexing them one step. The sheets S are fed downwardly and outwardly by the bar 46 and grippers 47 thereon, passing between the impression roller 78 of my attachment and the indicia wheels of the numbering machines, the numbering machines continuing to rotate bodily on the shaft 38. If the press misfeeds or nonfeeds it will be apparent that the latch 32 is released for counterclockwise rotation as viewed in Fig. 2, under the influence of spring 37, as soon as the arm 29 is removed from the shoulder 31. This moves arm 141 to the left as viewed in Fig. 2, rocking arm 106 and the depending arm 101 counterclockwise.

Simultaneously with this movement the thick portion of the shoe is placed beneath the roller133 and the roller 133 moves downwardly, releasing the portion 124 of the cam from the notches, permitting the springs 75 to hold the indexing earns 76 and 77 out of indexing position. Likewise, thepin 96 is moved to the position shown in Fig. 4, raising the roller 78 out of contact position with the indicia wheels upontheir next rotation. This prevents printing on the surface of the roller 78 which printing, upon restarting the press, would be transferred to the back of the sheets being fed through the press.

From the foregoing it will be apparent that I have devised an improved letter press attachment for printing presses. In actual practice my invention has proved to be very satisfactory. It will be obvious that without difficulty the attachment may be fitted to presses of the offset type and it further will be obvious that it is particularly adapted for association with the Davidson press. My improved attachment makes possible the consecutive numbering or lettering of various types. of sheets and it will be understood that the numbering machines may be positioned so as to print numbers across the sheet, as for instance in the way numbering machine 62 is arranged, or vertically on a sheet as for instance the way numbering machine 63 is arranged.

While I have shown my invention in but one form, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that it is not so limited, but isv susceptible of various changes and modiprinting relation with the printing mechanism, a shaft on whichthe printing mechanism is mounted for bodily rotary movement into and out of printing relation with the impression cylindenmeans to move the impression cylinder into and out of printing position during each revolution of the printing press, means to rotate the printing mechanism bodily about said shaft, means driven by the plate segment cylinder to index the printing mechanism upon each. revolution thereof; means for feeding sheets to the printing press, means for actuating the throw otf mechanism upon malfunctioning of thesheet feeding means, means operable in response to the actuation of said throw-off mechanism to-hol'd the impression cylinder out of pointing position; andmeansbpratively connecting 8 1 the throw-off mechanism to the indexing means for the printing mechanism and effective'upon actuation of the throw-off mechanism to render the indexing means inoperative.

2. In a letter press attachment for a printing press having a throw-off mechanism and a rotating plate segment cylinder, a pair of vertically extendingside frames forming the sides of the printing press, a generally horizontally disposed shaft mounted for rotation in the side frames, indexible printing means mounted on the shaft for planetary rotation thereabout, means to index the printing means comprising a movable member which in one position is disposed to be engaged by a part of the printing means thereby to index the same, means driven by the plate segment cylinder to move said member into indexing position once in each revolution of the printing press, impression cylinder cooperable with the printing means, means mounting said impression cylinder for movement out of printing relation relative to the printing means, means to move the impression cylinder into printing position once during each revolution of the printing press, means for feeding sheets to said printing press, means for actuating the throw-off mechanism upon malfunctioning of the sheet feeding means, and means operatively connecting the movable member and the sheet feeding means and operable upon malfunctioning of the sheet feeding means to hold said movable member out of indexing position and to hold the impression cylinder out of printing relation with the printing means.

, 3. The combination with a printing press having a rotary plate segment cylinder and a blanket cylinder cooperable therewith together with a throw-oil for stopping the printing motions of the press on mis-feeding o1- nonfeeding of a sheet, of a letter press attachment disposed to print additional data in sequential order upon the sheets after they have been printed by the press comprising a frame, a shaft mounted for rotary movement in the frame,

means rotating the shaft in timed relation with the plate segment cylinder of the press, a printing machine mounted on the shaft and embodying indexible indicia wheels, an impression cylinder mounted on the frame for movement into and out of printing relation to said indicia wheels, and mechanism driven by the plate segment cylinder to index said printing machine and to move said impression cylinder toward and from the printing machine during the operation of the printing press.

4. Ina letter press attachment for printing presses, parallel side frames, a shaft extending between the side frames and 'journalled for rotation therein, a numbering machine fixedly mounted on the shaft for bodily rotation therewith, said numbering machine embodying indexible number printing wheels, an impression cylinder cooperable with said numbering machine printing wheels, means to feed sheets between the impression cylinder and the printing wheels, means to move the impression cylinder out of printing relation with the printing wheels, means to move the impression cylinder into printing relation with the printing wheels when the sheet is in predetermined printing relation relative to the wheels, a second shaft mounted for oscillation in the frames alongside and generally parallel to the first named shaft, members on the second shaft etfective when the said second shaft oscillates in one direction to index the numbering machine printing wheels, means to oscillate said second shaft in a direction to index the printing wheels, and means effective upon malfunctioning of the sheet feeding means to render inoperative the shaft oscillating means and to hold the impression cylinder out of printing relation with the printing wheels.

5. Apparatus as defined in claim 4 in which the means effective upon malfunctioning of the sheet feeding means to render inoperative the shaft oscillating means and to hold the impression cylinder out of printing relation with the printing wheels comprises a clutch interposed betweenthe second named shaft and the means to oscillate the same, means to disengage said clutch upon malflmctioning of the sheet feeding means, and means rendering inoperative said means to move the impression cylinder into printing relation with the printing wheels upon malfunctioning of the sheet feeding means.

6. Apparatus as defined in claim 4 in which the means to move the impression cylinder into printing relation with the printing wheels comprises eccentric supporting means for said impression cylinder adjacent the ends thereof, a third. shaft mounted for oscillation in the side frames, a connection between said third shaft and the eccentric supporting means, means to oscillate said third shaft in a direction to bring said impression cylinder into printing relation with the printing wheels at the proper time.

7. In an attachment for printing presses, a frame, a first shaft in the frame, a numbering machine on the first shaft mounted for rotation therewith and having number printing wheels which are indexible step by step, an impres-' sion roller cooperable with the printing wheels to print on a sheet fed between the wheels and roller, eccentrics supporting the impression roller for movement into andout of printing relation with the wheels, a second shaft mounted for oscillation in the frame parallel to the first shaft, a connection between said second shaft and the eccentric supported impression cylinder whereby upon oscillation of the second shaft in one direction the impression cylinder moves away from the printing wheels, means to oscillate the second shaft in said one direction, a tubular shaft oscillatably mounted on the second shaft, means on the tubular shaft effective in one oscillated position thereof to index the printing wheels as the numbering machine rotates, a clutch efilective when engaged to lock said tubular shaft to the second shaft for simul- References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,019,197 Smith Mar. 5, 1912/ 1,465,750 Wright Aug. 21, 1923 1,647,560 Chisholm Nov. 1, 1927 1,681,652 Aldrich Aug. 21, 1928 1,920,232 Allen Aug. 1, 1933 2,387,750 Davidson Oct. 30, 1945 Jirousek Apr. 23, 1946 

